0

A few minutes later, they were sitting at a small round table, a giant slice of pizza each. Harry took a tentative bite and was initially taken aback by the assault of flavors. He wasn't sure what kind of cheese the place was using, but it was strangely addicting. He could get used to this very quickly. He wondered if the city was filled with small places such as this. Tiny places that were sure to have violated the state's health code.

"Pretty good, huh?" Peter asked with a huge grin as he watched Harry's look of mild amusement and satisfaction. He remembered seeing a similar expression on Gwen the first time he dragged her here.

"Not bad at all," the young CEO answered before taking another bite.

"So where are you interning at?" Peter asked, handing Harry a napkin. "'Cause I didn't see you at the orientation."

"I'm more in the filework and all the legal stuff department," Harry replied carefully, and he figured it wasn't much of a lie. That was pretty much all he did, all day, all week. Looking through files, making sure things were going accordingly and checking to see that people weren't trying to screw him over.

"Got it. How's interning there?"

"Not too bad. It's not fun, but it's do-able. You a science guy?"

"Yup. I guess I have my dad's genes."

"Oh, your father was a scientist?"

"He used to work at Oscorps. I don't know much else other than that though. Aunt May tells me both mom and dad got in a car accident when I was really young, and well, here I am," Peter answered with a weak smile. "Sorry, I don't know why I just told you all that. Sob story over pizza, wow," the teen continued, his eyes locked onto the half-eaten slice of pizza in front of him.

Harry didn't know what to say. For one thing, people didn't tell him things that were so personal. He couldn't remember the last time he had a heart-to-heart with anyone, because no one ever bothered to share that level of connection with him. He wished he knew what to say as he watched the tinge of sorrow marring Peter's usually happy-go-lucky face.

"I don't mind," Harry began quietly, figuring that was the most appropriate thing to say. "I lost my old man, too," he ventured carefully. He wondered why he was telling Peter that specific piece of information. He grimaced internally at the sudden sense of vulnerability that hit him.

"Yeah?" Harry asked, finally looking up from his pizza. Harry noted yet again how damn expressive those big, brown eyes were. How were they real?

"He was sick for a long time. Passed away a few months ago," the young CEO continued, not being able to stop himself. Now that was something he didn't want to share with someone over their first casual dinner. His father's sickness had always haunted him. A disease that was dubbed the "Osborn curse." A disease that slowly killed its victim, turning him into a hideous, helpless monster. His father's last words left him in fear until this day. The old man had laughed at him, claiming that the disease was going to get him too.

He really hated his old man sometimes.

"Oh man, I'm so sorry." Peter looked genuine sorry and guilty, and Harry wondered why. Even he himself wasn't too terribly sad that his father had passed away. And they weren't even good friends, so why was Peter watching him that way.

"It's fine."

"So uh," Peter cleared his throat, ready to change the subject. "There was a new monitor this morning, and I'm not saying I don't appreciate it, because trust me, I really do, but how did you...?" Peter ventured carefully, trying his best to not sound suspicious. He wasn't about to piss off someone that saved his ass big time.

"Simple computer work. A little bit of tweaking here and there has a new monitor placed there without much questioning," Harry lied, surprising himself with how smoothly the words came out of his mouth.

"No way," the intern reacted, his eyes almost visibly twinkling.

"I guess I learned a few tricks while interning."

"You, sir, are amazing," Peter added with a toothy grin.

"I do what I can."

"So, you have a girlfriend?"

"Not really."

"Not really?"

"I don't really do relationships. Too complicated." And it was true. Harry had been with many models and even a few actresses, but he didn't do relationships. He understood that trying to find someone who liked him for who he was was a completely pointless endeavor. Women wanted him for his money and power, and he chose not to fight it.

"So you've never been in a relationship?"

"I don't consider what I did in middle school relationships, so no. You?"

"I've never been in a relationship either, but not by choice unfortunately."

"I don't see why," Harry blurted out before giving it a thought. He hoped it didn't sound flirty, because he really didn't mean it to sound that way. Objectively speaking, Peter was someone people would find attractive. "Geek chic" was it? A bit of awkwardness, a hint of dorkiness, all with a friendly personality and those damn eyes.

"Ha, thanks," Peter smiled bashfully. "But I dunno, I guess I wasn't really attracted to anyone, and then I sort of figured out late on that I was gay."

"You're in New York. How difficult can it be for you to find a guy to date?"

"You'd think that, but, apparently that's not the case. My friend Gwen tries to set me up with a bunch of guys but I don't know..."

"Why not Mike over there?" Harry suggested playfully, earning himself a bark of laughter from the other.

"Not my type."

"Yeah?"

"I mean, he's cute, objectively speaking, but I'm sure he's only into casual relationships."

"What's wrong with that?"

Peter let out another laugh at that. "I guess I'm more of a helpless romantic. Know anyone like that?"

"Nope. Don't think New York's the right place for that."

"Yeah, everyone tells me that." Peter groaned as he finished the last of his pizza. "Hey you want another slice?"

"Nah, I'm good."

"I'm just gonna grab a slice for Aunt May. She always complains this stuff's bad for her but secretly loves it."

Harry could tell that Peter really loved this Aunt May. He watched as Peter trailed back to the counter and grinned as he watched Mike flirting outrageously with the intern.

"So where do you live?" Peter asked once they were outside.

Harry opened his mouth to answer but stopped himself. He wasn't about to tell Peter that he lived in a neighborhood where every house standing was at least a couple million dollars each. At the same time, he didn't know any middle-income neighborhoods in New York. Was he supposed to say he lives in Jersey?

"Not too far away, but I just realized that I left something back at the company so I'm just gonna go pick it up and head home." Harry was sure that he was stacking up on some bad karma by lying so much in one day.

"Right, so I guess I'll see you...tomorrow?"

"Yeah, sounds good."

Harry did go back to the office, where his chauffeur was waiting for him. The drive back home was quiet. Too quiet. And when he did enter his gigantic mansion of a home, he couldn't help but think how much more comfortable he felt at the run-down pizza place. The place was just so damn big. Needlessly big and hollow. He was seriously going to have to considering moving to somewhere much smaller and more him.

0

"How was your date?"

"Wasn't a date," Peter answered into his phone. Gwen had called him as soon as he was home, knowing that Peter had been out with this mystery intern.

"OK, fine then, how was your not-a-date?"

"We just had pizza."

"Did he see Mike?"

"Yeah. Unfortunately."

"Did he run?"

"Nope."

"Oh, that's good. So it was a date."

"No, Gwen, it was a casual dinner with someone who wasn't homophobic."

"Ugh, you're so boring. Why didn't you like Jake anyway?"

Jake was another guy Gwen had tried to set him up with. The guy nice and sweet and all, but Peter couldn't make himself attracted to him. He was begining to wonder if he was actually asexual, considering his only attraction had been towards a couple of celebrities.

"We just didn't hit it off?"

"Are you even sure you're gay?"

"I'm sure I'm not straight."

"Ugh. Tell me more about this..Harry Wilson."

"It wasn't a date!"

"I didn't say it was. I'm simply asking you about your new friend."

"You're horrible."

"Answer the question, Peter."

"What do you wanna know," Peter replied in defeat. He knew Gwen well enough to know that there was no persuading her away from this Harry Wilson.

"Let's start with what he looks like."

"Blond hair, blue eyes. I think."

"OK, hot."

"Really?"

"What? Go on."

"A bit shorter than me. Skinny. He kinda looks like...an elf?"

"An elf."

"Not like, Legolas, but more like a forest elf?"

"A forest elf."

Harry could hear the apprehension in his friend's voice.

"Kind of like...a mischivous forest elf but in human proportions."

"You're making it worse."

"No, but he's like a good-looking mischivous forest elf."

"Yeah, you lost me. I have a really weird image in my head and I don't think anything's going to get rid of that. So what's he like?"

"He's chill."

"That's it?"

"I feel comfortable around him...I don't know what else to say."

"Ugh, you're so boring."

"You need to find yourself a boyfriend."

"I will. In England. What's your excuse?"

"Ha ha, you wound me. I'm hanging up now."

"Alright you. You get some sleep now. Oh wait, you should bring him to the party on Saturday."

"What? No! We're not even that close!"

"Peter, you're going to need to make new friends."

"Wow, you're really out to get me today."

"Just please? I wanna meet this guy."

"We. Are. Not. Dating."

"Yeah but when's the last time you actually hung out with someone."

"Plenty of-"

"Other than me."

"Wow you suck."

"You love me. Now go to bed and ask your friend to come along. Everyone likes a party."

"Not me."

"I know, that's why I'm dragging you."

"Night, Gwen."

"Night Peter!"

0

Peter stretched his limbs and rubbed his eyes. It was a slow day at Oscorps (for the interns. Not for everyone else, who was actually busting their asses doing real work). It seemed like everyone else was too busy to pay attention to the string of teens camping out around the cubicles.

Gwen wasn't returning his texts (she was just busy like that), which had Peter dying of boredom. There were no games to be played, nothing to be done...so he decided to text Harry to ask him if things were just as boring in his department.

Busy?

Peter texted and waited impatiently for a reply. He was so bored. So very bored.

[Not really why?]

Peter grinned. Finally someone to take him out of his boredom.

Im bored

[Shouldnt u be working?]

Apparently not

[Slacking off are we]

What r u the boss of this place?

Harry glanced at text in amusement. In fact, he was the boss of the place, and he wondered how Peter would react if he found out who he really was. The young CEO pushes the files he had been reviewing off to the side. He wasn't getting anywhere anyway. He needed a break.

[Maybe I am]

You wish

[Doesnt seem like a fun job being the boss here]

Yeah but ud be rich

Like super rich

Like wipe my ass with 20s kinda rich

[Probably not that rich]

R u kidding me

Do u know where we r

Wonder if he'd give me a 100 if I asked

[U can try]

Ha

Up to anything this weekend?

[Not sure why]

Gwens dragging me to a party and wanted to ask if u wanna go

Just a casual house party

Probably not even gonna stay that long

Harry pushed a button on his desk, which connected directly to Felicia.

"Yes Mr. Osborn?" his secretary's voice immediately rang through.

"Do I have anything scheduled for this Saturday?"

"You have a lunch appointment with-"

"Anything after 5?"

"No, sir."

"Thanks."

[Sure]

Awesome

So dinner before and then party?

Not as a date

Maybe I shouldnt have said that

[Dinner sounds good but not at Mikes again]

Come on u liked the pizza

Ur pick?

[U should pick again]

Theres this awesome burger place

[Let me guess...the waiter there hits on u]

Im irresistable

[It must be ur modesty]

ikr

Burger it is unless u choose otherwise

[Sounds good]

They r giving us stuff to do now

Yay

[Have fun]

U too

Stay out of trouble

Harry hadn't realized that he was grinning like an idiot till the screen went black. There was something about Peter that made him feel so at ease. It was strange. Almost mesmerizing. And with Peter, he didn't have to act like the CEO of one of the biggest corporations in the world. He could smile and laugh and not worry about appearing weak. He could enjoy a slice of pizza at some awful, run-down pizza place without having to worry about being judged.

Peter really was a breath of fresh air.

A/N: Still not sure if I want to turn this into an angst fic or now...